The Indiana Fever announced Tuesday that this season will be Lin Dunn’s last as their coach.

Stephanie White, the Fever’s associate head coach, will succeed Dunn next year, according to team president and general manager Kelly Krauskopf.

The news came shortly before the Fever lost to the Washington Mystics 80-63 in a WNBA exhibition game at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Rookie forward Natasha Howard led the Fever with 14 points, and new acquisition Marissa Coleman added 10.

Tamika Catchings, the WNBA’s 2011 MVP and a three-time Olympic gold medalist, sat out the game. Catchings, 34, is not scheduled to play in any of the Fever’s preseason games. Regulars Shavonte Zellous and Erlana Larkins have not joined the Fever after helping their overseas teams to league titles in Turkey and Italy, respectively.

Dunn, who turns 67 Saturday, will remain with the Fever in 2015 as a senior basketball advisor. White, 36, is a former Seeger, Purdue and Fever player and the No. 2 scorer in Indiana girls basketball history.

Dunn, a native of Dresden, Tennessee, will be inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame next month. In 2012, she led the Fever to their first championship with a 3-1 victory over the defending champion Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Finals.

In 37 years as a head coach, Dunn has a record of 664-453 (.594). She left four university programs – Austin Peay, Mississippi State, Miami, Fla., and Purdue – as the winningest coach in their history. She also coached in the former American Basketball League before coming to the WNBA.

In nine seasons, Dunn led Purdue to three Big Ten titles, seven NCAA tournament appearances, four Sweet 16s and the 1994 Final Four.

“It’s time for a new challenge,” Dunn said in a release from the club. “I have truly treasured my time with Pacers Sports & Entertainment. I am thrilled that we won the 2012 WNBA championship for our franchise and our fans, and I appreciate the opportunity I’ve had to work with Kelly Krauskopf, Jim Morris and our owner, Herb Simon. I plan to move into a consulting role with the Fever and continue to mentor and advise pro and college coaches.”

The Fever will dedicate their June 11 game against the Seattle Storm, a team she previously coached, to Dunn.

Krauskopf said she had been discussing Dunn’s possible retirement for a while.

“Clearly, Lin’s impact on our franchise has been monumental,” Krauskopf said in a release. “Not only as the winningest coach in our history and leading us to a title in 2012, but also her willingness to help us in the community. I have thoroughly enjoyed working side by side with her from the day I hired her. No one is going to outwork Lin Dunn. Her energy and passion are contagious. But I suppose after 44 years of coaching, she deserves a break now.”

Dunn, entering her seventh season as Fever coach, has been on the sideline for 1,117 pro and college games. Her first job, in 1970, was as physical education instructor, cheerleading coordinator and coach of women’s basketball, volleyball and tennis at Austin Peay.

Dunn joined the Fever in 2003 as a scout, then was promoted to assistant coach and head coach. She has guided Indiana to the playoffs in each of her six seasons, including four visits to the Eastern Conference finals and two to the WNBA Finals.

In 2010, she was selected to both the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame and Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.